ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀꜱᴋ: ᴄʜᴀᴇɴɴɪᴇ

Chapter 1

Paris, 1881

JENNIE

I had lived a secure life 6 floors beneath the opera house in Paris, I had created my own domain, my own world and no one knew.

When I came to Belgium in 1856 I felt free, for 3 years I had travled through Europe and Asia, seeking my old shelters where I used to hide those many years ago. At night I went out on the street, it was the only time of the day I was not afraid to be seen. I stayed up the whole night and traveled through the city's and hid when I saw the sunrise.

In Belgium I had met Jules, a young man who had just married the love of his life and they were expecting a child sometime in Winter. He was fascinated by me, though I couldn't really understand why at first. I learned that his whole family had been architects and so was I.

I hired him as my messenger, I would send him to buy me things or send messages to people. I lived in Belgium for three years. After my time in Persia and the tortue I was forced upon I was tired, my soul felt like I was an old woman even though i had just turned 25.

Two  years later I travled back to Paris, I had missed my home country so much. I hadn't been there since I was 9 years old, the night when I ran away from my mother and never returned.

First I lived in a flat outside of Paris, I didn't work but Jules sent me money every month as he was in my place as an architect. I would draw the sketches to house or whatever they would build and Jules would build the place, as a woman I did not have many opportunities.

In 1960 I read about the construction of a Opera house in Paris, I remember how my mother used to talk about how much she wanted Paris to have an Opera.

I got Jules to get to Paris and find the constructor of the Opera house, his name was Charles Garnier. I met him a few days later at his office. If he was surprised my face mask he didn't show it.

I convinced him to let me look at the drawings and I rebuilt them to my own liking and Garnier agreed with me.

In 1975 after 14 years the Opera house was finished, through the years I had secretly built trap doors everywhere that no one would know but me. There was one on stage, backstage, in box 5 and in the managers office.

I lived a quiet life in my own world, down below. Under the opera house in the catacombs. In the back of my mind memories from my time in Persia repeated like a broken record.

The words of my dear friend Nadir "Promise me to never kill someone again for the feeling of joy." He had said before we said goodbye and I had ridden away. I had kept my promise to Nadir, things took a turn recently though.

It was a cold February night, I had for the first time in months gone out on the streets of Paris, why? I don't know, I hid my face as I walked the streets but soon it started raining.

"To the Opera!" I said as I saw a carriage, the old man nodded but before he could ride the door opened.

"Sorry Monsieur, but this is my carriage." I said, hiding my face. "I am actually also on my way to the Opera. This woman and I are old friends.... Right, Jennie?" The man spoke, I didn't know what to say but I stared at the Persian man.

"Is that fine, Monsieur?" The driver asked, "Yes!" I hissed, "Drive." I said.

As the carriage rolled Nadir took off his hat, I took my time to observe him. It had been more than 10 years since I had last seen the man. He had aged, he looked to be about 60 but I knew that he wasn't.

"What a lovely surprise, Jennie." He said.

"That depends on how you see it." I answered., trying to hide my feelings behind a sarcastic smile. "What are you doing here in Paris after all these my friend?" I had aksed, "I've actually been here for a few years." He answred, "Ever since I was freed from the prision in Mazandaran." He said.

"You were freed?" I asked, he nodded. "I was in prision for five years for helping you escape." He said, I smiled behind my mask.

Spending five years in prision changed a person, that's why Nadir looked older than he is. If I was correct he was just in his early 40's. It was really a miracle he had survived!

But then, what was I going to do now? Should I ask him to come to my house and give him a cup of tea? No! It had been over 10 years since we last saw each other, we didn't have anything in common anymore. We didn't live in the same world anymore.

"Did you leave Persia on your free will?" I asked, he laughed and shock his head as a no. "Let's say, I wasn't welcome to stay. But as I was Daroga I got lucky and I retired." He told me, I nodded.

"I visit the opera house often, I try to see every perfomance." He said, it surpised me. My dear old friend who didn't know a thing about music went to see every opera.

"Do your have your own box?" I asked, "Of course not, I'm not that rich." He laughed bitterly, "I'll get them to fix one for you." I said, he looked at me confused.

"I know the managers." I told him, I couldn't tell him anything of my secret life. He looked at me and slowly nodded. I knew that face! He was suspicous and he had every right too!

"You do?" He asked, "I helped building the Opera." I simply said, "That's why I recognized the architecture when I first visited." He laughed, while in Persia the Shah had let me build a new palace for him.

When the carriage had arrived at the Opera we both stepped out, Nadir took on his hat and looked at me.

"Where do you live?" He asked.

"That is something you or any others don't  have anything to do with." I spat. "But it should be somewhere close by." He said. "You asked the driver to drive to the Opera which means you live close."

I hissed and rolled my eyes.

"You're still that police! Follows the tracks like another a bloodhound! It is hard to get rid of your habits."

"Don't think you can play with me." He answered, "Why do you keep your address a secret for me? Am I not welcome?" He asked.

I bit my lip under the mask, it was probably bleeding.

"I don't have guests." I told him, "Jennie, what are you hiding from me? Nadir mumbled. "What have you done?"

I leaned towards him and stared coldly at him.

"This is not Mazandaran." I explained, "You have no jurisdiction in this country. Listen now! Don't follow me. The person who enteres my house will regret it. At this point you should know better than to not listen to me. Remember the scorpion and stay away, Nadir!"

a/n: welcome to my fanfic! this is very inspired by the phantom of the opera which is a novel from 1910's of gaston leroux and the musical by andrew lloyd webber. a lot of events that happens in the book and musical will be in here too. i hope you'll like it! remember to vote and follow me!! take care, -bby.rae